ONE THING AND ANOTHER

ON THE AFTERNOON of 2nd February, THE BELL RANG, to signal end of Classes for the as day.

Immediately, on each Floor of the three story Primary School, it was if a riot broke out.    Children, shouting, pushing and shoving each other, raced to the stairways in a 'stampede'.    39 children were seriously injured, and at least 13 died in the melee.     It seemed as if nothing, and one, was at hand to restrain the matter, and bring order.      This photo was taken minutes later, as parents began to arrive and to seek out their children.

ON THE FACE OF IT, looking at the structure in the photo, it looks well built, and safe, though we are not shown a shot of the actual Stairwells and exits, which is where the worst happened.   But one or two are reported to have also fallen over the balconies.      Where were the teachers?  Was it usual to just open the doors and let the kids storm out and away, any old how, without the slightest care or supervision.     Our own School does not have balconies and is only two floors.     Children 'are not allowed' to rush out of classes in a disordered fashion, and there are teachers always there to see that the don't.   Well all this just underlines and emphasises the fact that supervision is of primary importance in the ordering of academic life - all the way through to University - though it seems unlikely to  see it in the near future.   We thank God that discipline has, and remains one the pillars on which the School here is built and maintained.     It has in no way curtailed the happiness of the children, who are still exuberant and joyful children - just controlled.

TODAY  the sun is shining and the  temperature up in the 80f.    The Swimming pool packed with school children, and perhaps, after all, we might see just a little glimpse of our elusive DRY Season.  BUT the LOCUSTS are still enjoying or crops, rain or shine.

It is said that Kenya and its neighbours are suffering the biggest invasion of desert locusts in 70 years.  One such swarm has been recorded in Kenya as being 60 km in  length, and some 40 km in width.    It can be assumed that more than 200 million locusts comprise this cloud, and will steadily eat, eat , eat, till nothing is left, and they die!    And WE shall go on to suffer real hunger.
Our cabinet Secretary for Agriculture in Kenya, Peter Munya got up on the 17th of this month and told us all not to worry.    '"don't be worried.  They (the locusts) area going to die."       The Minister has remained silent.
The Locusts continue to invade our land, and also now in Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda.     It seems nothing and no one can control THEM either.

BUT there are places and ways for KENYAN's to still find fun and happiness.    I could not resist including this photo of a family rding a camel on the coast near Mombasa recently.    We see camels even in Eldoret - ever so rarely - and they also thrive in Naivasha.  Interesting animals, but on the whole I have never felt tempted to get too friendly with the. But they probably have every reason to look and sound a bit sour and grumpy - considering how they are treated, and the loads they have to carry.

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LAST SATURDAY, Esther and I were together with all our co-workers, sharing Jesus together as we all gathered in the School Hall - about 110 of us.     Starting at 9a.m. it usually continues till 1p.m..    Initially it is Praise and Worship, and opportunity for as many as may wish to, to share and proclaim how God has proved Himself to them over the previous three months.   A very happy, joyful, and encouraging time.   Then a short break and back again when groups come to the front to sing, or act together.  For example all the Office staff form such a groupl, and also the Houseparents, Grounds staff, and Cleaners, as well as the Nursery, Primary, and Secpndary Teachers.

Of course each group also meet in between this Termly Get Together, for prayer and even Bible study.      This keeps all us close to each other.......     We thank God for it.

To the left one of our ladies really going strong, leading her group in a very joyeous  number, and on the right another group of somme of the Office Staff. A lot of real happiness, laughter and satisfaction as each group presents what they have.

To the left again are some of our

Secondary School Staff, the Head master taller than the others!

And to right a group of our Nursery School teachers.  They all  choose their own piece to present, and rehearse and make ready in their own time.

It has been God's special Blessing that in the midst of so much work day and day out, among the children in the Homes and in the School, that we find time for each other and for God.    We truly are one BIG family.         Daryl was with the music section playing his guitar with Stephan Wathika, also a guitarist, whose son we Dedicated last week.

BUT WITH THE SMOOTH often comes rough moments, as on Tuesday this week. Esther was across at Jacaranda passing the time of daya with some staff and children, near road gate.   Inside Old Jacaranda Cottage, our pastor was holding a Bible Study with some of the older children less than  fifty meters away,    C R A C K!!!!! Suddenly, without any warning an old Jacaranda Tree decided it was its hour - and it fell down, all of it, from the base, its branches coming down on the roof just above Pastors head.      Not a soul was touched, inside or outside, and although many came to a very sudden standstill with mouths wide open not a hair of any head was lost.

             

As you  can see it was no small tree, and had been growing there for the last 50 years as strong and flourishing as ever, year after year.     In face I have never known a Jacaranda Tree to fall down of its own.    BUT you can see from the bottom photo that this tree seemed  to have had NO real root at all.  It could have come down at any time, even killing someone.   It fell across the path from the gate inwards, and its branches reached the wall of the old bathroom of Jacaranda Cottage.    Not a window broken.     Just three iron sheets on the roof  slightly dented.      Surely God was watching over everyone.     But I hate to see a tree fall down.

SUCH A SUNNY DAY!    And the Week has ended well.     

DARYL attended a Meeting or our Area County Advisory Council for Children on THURSDAY.

He was told that the Government has NOW decided to allow all those Children's homes that were Registered already in 2017 to remain OPEN and to be RE-REGISTERED forthwith!    SEVEN in our Area - out of almost 40!     Of course this includes us, and we have been delivered.     The LORD in his Grace and Mercy has powerfully intervened once more,  and we REJOICE!

We were first warned that we were to closed in 2014.    A long time waiting and wondering, and seeking the Lord.

SO, now that we have been approved of we have to put together a 165 page Application to be Re-Re-registered.    The last time we did this was in March 2017, applying for re-re-registration for the next 3 yrears, until now in fact.    It was compiled and sent, but never acknowledged, nor a Certificate given, nor a Receipt for the Fee paid.        NOW we have to do it all over again as from today for the NEXT 3 years...........Quite a lot of work and we have only been given one week to do it all.    THUS I have been hard at it all day, and probably tomorrow as well - so I decided this evening to get my Blog off early again.

Our Love to you all, in the midst of much prayer for the world at large, suffering as it does.

God Bless and uphold you all.

John, Esther and Daryl Green